When one throws the element of ethnicity into the mix, the process of diagnosis becomes even more difficult. Let us take, for instance the effect of religion on the diagnosis of a mental illness.

In some religions it is considered to be "normal" to experience visions, see ghosts, and talk to the dead. However, from a strict clinical standpoint, these things do not exist and therefore indicate a break from reality. There have certainly been people diagnosed with a serious mental illness for "hallucinating." However, it is much more difficult to determine when to label such a happening a "hallucination" or a "vision." For the person being diagnosed, the experience does not change. However, the label that is applied to the experience can mean the difference between the accepted norm and mental illness (Griffiths et al., 2006, 2).

There are differences in reactions to clinicians that are culturally based as...
[ View Full Essay]